Nibbles gets gobbled

When Nibbles went away atop the Cote de la Roche aux Faucons, Philippe Gilbert suddenly looked like he’d just taken a big hit from a spoiled bidon and the chase was as well organized as the House Democratic caucus. When Nibbles had 46 seconds in hand all the smart folks pretty much figured that was that.

And then Maxim Iglinskiy chased him down like Nibbles owed him money, and that really was that — the Sicilian was racing for second with just over a klick to go, and Astana was en route to picking up its second big win in a week after Enrico Gasparotto won last Sunday’s Amstel Gold. Gasparatto made the podium here, too, finishing third. Good times.

Good times here today, too. We’re looking at a sunny 60-something with light winds, and having already arranged for dinner — leftovers from last night’s killer stew of green chile, pork, onions, garlic and spuds — I have plenty of time to ride. Only one chore remains, the completion of an overdue column for Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Some days these things practically write themselves; others, it’s like trying to drive ten-penny nails into mahogany using an old banana for a hammer.

Turn your old bananas into banana bread! Seriously, working up against a deadline is no fun.

Ugly cold and wet weather in Belgium . Well done Iglinsky, Gaspa and Astana. Nibali acquitted himself very well. I’m afraid he’ll see alot more of that weather at the Giro. Good to see Scarponi coming into form, too.

Too bad about Gilbert, though. He’s really nowhere near the form of last year. I kinda thought Voeckler might have had a chance, too, but I guess he took a digger at the foot of La Redoute. I missed that somehow, despite watching a French-language feed. Duh.

I was pounding on the table here in Sicily, “VAI ENZO!” but it didn’t help, he just ran out of gas a kilometer too soon. But I like this kid, he TRIES TO WIN instead of trying not to lose like so many others. Iglinskiy made a smart move jumping out and chasing him down, as he said later he thought he was racing for second and was actually sort of surprised he was able to catch The Shark. I’m still hoping NIbali will do the Giro but it’s looking like they’re going with Grampa Basso there and will waste Enzo’s talents at LeTour instead. Gorgeous day here too, I enjoyed 70 kms under the Sicilian sun before a lunch of pasta/fagioli, then settled in to watch L-B-L via Sporza on the ‘net until RAI3 came on with the TV pictures. Then it was trying to watch both the bike race and the other bike race (World Superbike) but I quickly gave up on the motorized program.

Yeah, I like the attackers, especially the guys who make their moves precisely when an attack seems completely insane — on a descent, on the wrong climb, in the final kilometer as the sprinters’ teams are arranging their trains, that sort of thing.

Those are the reasons I was a big fan of Claudio Chiappucci back-in-the-day. “El Diablo” as he was called, was predictably unpredictable, attacking when it made no sense…but I’ll never forget his epic ride back in LeTour ’92. We saw his escape early in the stage live and had time to go back to our hotel and watch the finale on the big screen TV. I think of him every time I’m in Sestriere.

Bummer in Bombtown. I really aggravated that triggerfinger in my right hand doing yard work on Friday. Ice packs, Ibuprofen, and no bicycle till sunday, and then by the time I put in an hour, had to go home and self-medicate. I guess its time to call the sawbones and do some trail running. Damn, getting old sucks.

That’ll teach ya to do yardwork! They have people you can hire for that….says a guy who’s mowed his own lawn about ONCE. Pull a few weeks outta the flowerbeds and pick up some of the bigger sticks now and then, but no raking, mowing, watering, etc. for me.